Each week we round up the latest N.C. agricultural headlines from news outlets across the state and country, as well as excerpts from the stories. Click on the links to go straight to the full story.
- “Celebrate the season of corn,” The News & Observer: July’s abundant crop of sweet corn is delayed a bit in some areas because of the wet spring, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying fresh corn on the cob. Some corn has arrived at farmers markets – keep watch at the markets near you….
- “Make way for the meat truck,” Asheville Citizen-Times: Do you know your farmer, your butcher and your meat-truck driver? Casey McKissick is about to become all three. McKissick, owner and farmer of Foothills Pasture Raised Meats and program director of NC Choices, which provides education and technical assistance to local and niche meat supply chain partners, is diversifying his family business. McKissick, with wife Meredith, will later this September open a butcher shop in Black Mountain associated with Foothills Pasture Rasied Meats, where he will process much of the meat he raises on his own farm, supplemented by other local farms….
- “Policy changes should not affect wood-pellet plans at port,” Wilmington Star-News: Energy policy changes across the Atlantic could affect how long the boom in the U.S. wood pellet industry will last, forestry experts and industry opponents say. But the company that plans to invest millions into building a pellet-exporting facility at the Port of Wilmington says those changes were long anticipated and have provided certainty for the industry to continue rapid growth…
- “Farm bill gives legal, environmental protections to agriculture,” News & Observer: Dome: A regulatory reform bill for the agricultural industry has sailed through the General Assembly and was signed into law last week by Gov. Pat McCrory. SB638 provides protections to farmers and “agri-tourism” interests against what its backers call frivolous lawsuits. It is also intended to make it easier for businesses to find insurance for petting zoos, educational programs and other operations; protect farmers’ water rights when there are water shortages; and give agriculture leeway in building and maintaining dams…
- “Fundraiser for Fisher House,” Jacksonville Daily News: N.C. Department of Agriculture recently partnered with Piggly Wiggly to raise money for Camp Lejeune-based Fisher House Foundation, which provides lodging, supplies and services to unite families and loved ones with those enduring illness, injury or combat injury. The partnership has raised $4,500 in donations and collected toiletries, paper goods and non-perishable foods…
- “N.C. State Fair announces 2013 concert lineup,” Garner Cleveland Post: The 2013 State Fair fall concert lineup will feature performances by rock, country, contemporary Christian and bluegrass musicians, along with a unique Michael Jackson tribute band. …
- “Audio: Clean Water Act Info Offered for NC Farmers,” Southern Farm Network: The EPA, under the Clean Water Act, has mandated that on-farm fuel storage must have a spill plan. Ag Compliance will be hosting a series of informational meetings, starting today, and Jorge Vara II, compliance consultant with Ag Compliance, professional engineering firm: “Here recently there was a deadline that passed; May 10th, 2013, where if you are a farmer or rancher and you have the capacity to store oils and fuels on your farm then the EPA is requiring you to have a SPCC Plan, or spill plan, and this affects quite a few farmers in North Carolina…
- “N.C. Farmers Market looking for state’s biggest watermelon,” Winston Salem Journal: The State Farmers Market is offering $1,000 to anyone who can grow North Carolina’s largest watermelon. The market is conducting a contest in conjunction with its annual Watermelon Day scheduled for Aug. 1. All entries must be from North Carolina, and growers must be prepared to identify where the watermelon was grown…
- “Record rainfall in western NC impacting farmers,” Greensboro News and Record: The combination of record rainfall and flooding on the French Broad River is causing devastating problems for some farmers in western North Carolina. A steady run of downpours have drowned many crops, slashed yields on others and boosted costs by forcing farmers to spray more fungicides to hold off diseases…
- “Looking for good produce this summer? Be patient,” High Point Enterprise: Heavy rains in June created a burst of produce, but it may not last much longer. There could be a production lull before the season ends.“It has turned out better that I thought it would,” said farmer Joe Peterson of Sophia who offered produce Tuesday at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. “We have plenty right now. It may not last too long. We may run out before the season is over.” Across the state, June was unusually cool and wet…